Basic Insight

Li Ru began teaching Zhou Ling how to recognize the basic cultivation runes of Lingxia Dao Academy, using books on rune identification.

These were not cultivation techniques, merely explanations of basic cultivation runes and concepts.

At times, Li Ru would also tell him about Lingxia Dao Academy.

She would often smile and murmur, "Son! As long as you can become an Inner Disciple of Lingxia Dao Academy, your father and I will be at ease!"

The reason Li Ru said this was that Lingxia Dao Academy divided its disciples into three categories: Direct Disciples, Inner Disciples, and Outer Sect Disciples.

Only by becoming an Inner Disciple could one be considered an official disciple of Lingxia Dao Academy.

Outer Sect Disciples, on the other hand, existed only for Lingxia Dao Academy to fulfill the Dao Alliance's cultivation plan quotas.

Of course, they also had to pay certain fees to be admitted.

After these Outer Sect Disciples graduated, if they could not become Inner Disciples, they would effectively have nothing to do with Lingxia Sect from then on.

Inner Disciples were the true backbone of Lingxia Sect.

Within Lingxia Immortal City, nearly every industry was basically monopolized by Lingxia Sect, accounting for as much as seventy percent.

For example, spirit mines, spirit lands, cave abodes, marketplaces, and so on.

The little courtyard Zhou Ling lived in now was also property of Lingxia Sect.

Once one became an Inner Disciple, not only could one learn Lingxia Sect's cultivation methods and spells, but one would also have ample cultivation resources.

As well as a respectable status.

If one could become a Direct Disciple, one would not only become part of Lingxia Sect's true core in the future, but would also have a great chance of entering the upper ranks of management in Lingxia Immortal City.

And if one went a step further, one could head to the Dao Alliance to seek advancement.

However, Li Ru did not ask for much. As long as her son could become an Inner Disciple of Lingxia Immortal City, she would be completely satisfied.

She did not want him to be like her and Zhou Shan, risking their lives in the mountains every day while still living such a hard life.

In just a few days, Zhou Ling finished learning this book of basic cultivation runes.

[Read Basic Cultivation Runes, Immortal Root Aptitude +1, Comprehension +1]

His Comprehension had finally improved. Zhou Ling immediately found himself filled with a powerful drive to study.

By now, Zhou Ling had gained some understanding of cultivation in this realm.

As for cultivation—

The first and most important thing was Spiritual Root Aptitude.

Only cultivators with Spiritual Root Aptitude could absorb and refine the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, turning it into their own spiritual power for their use.

Zhou Ling currently possessed a Low-Grade Spiritual Root, which was considered fairly good even among Rogue Cultivators.

After all, most Rogue Cultivators had Mixed Spiritual Roots, while those with Mid-grade Spiritual Roots would generally be recruited by academies or sects as key prospects for training.

Besides Spiritual Root Aptitude, Comprehension was also extremely crucial.

If you could not comprehend cultivation methods, then no matter how good your talent was, your cultivation would still progress slowly.

Thus, neither could be lacking.

Zhou Ling's current Comprehension was Mediocre. Put simply, it was at the level of an ordinary person.

Therefore, this [Immortal Root Aptitude] talent was extremely important to him.

Unfortunately, there were no other books at home.

Fortunately, attentive and gentle Li Ru had also noticed that her son had a strong aptitude for learning.

When Zhou Shan went to the marketplace to sell spirit herbs, she took Zhou Ling with her, intending to buy him some other books.

After breakfast, Zhou Ling followed his parents to Lingyun Marketplace in West City.

It was located on West Main Street, the liveliest street in West City.

There were numerous markets here. The outer areas were mainly filled with hawkers and small stalls, while beyond them, on the main street, stood trading houses and shops.

Zhou Ling walked beside Li Ru. Though he was only a year and a half old, he walked steadily. It was just that his steps were too small, and sometimes he could not keep up with his parents.

Whenever he fell behind, Zhou Ling would break into a little run to catch up.

[You are running. Physique +1, Running Speed +1, Running Technique +1]

[Accumulated Exercise Count: 9088/10,000]

[Hint: After your exercise count reaches 10,000, you will need more intense exercise to continue improving your Physique.]

Suddenly, Zhou Ling slowed down, then squatted and picked up a glittering crystal with his little hand.

"Low-grade Spirit Stone!"

Zhou Ling was delighted. A single Low-grade Spirit Stone took his parents two or three days of hard work to earn.

[Picked up a Low-grade Spirit Stone. Mountain Treasure Hunt +1]

"Ling'er, come here quickly!"

Seeing that her son had fallen behind, Li Ru hurriedly waved to him.

Though there were quite a few people in the Market Street at the moment, having taken Zhou Ling into the mountains twice, Li Ru and Zhou Shan dared to let him walk on his own.

"Mother, look what this is."

Zhou Ling walked up to Li Ru, held out his little hand, and passed her a Spirit Stone, his childish voice piping up.

"Son, where did this come from?" Li Ru could not help asking.

"I picked it up!"

Li Ru hurriedly looked around. People came and went, but no one was paying attention to their family of three.

"Our son really is lucky!" Zhou Shan praised, full of gratification.

Li Ru smiled as she put away the Spirit Stone. "Tonight, Mother will get you something extra to eat!"

"Ru'er, you two go buy the books first. I'll head to Hundred Herbs Hall and sell the spirit herbs."

When they reached an intersection ahead, Zhou Shan said.

Li Ru nodded, then led Zhou Ling down the street to the right.

Before long, they arrived at a somewhat deserted shop at the end of the street.

The storefront was plain and shabby, without any decoration, merely an old flag hanging outside.

The words "You Shu Zhai" were embroidered on it.

The interior was small and rather simple. Rows of bookshelves stood side by side, filled with different books.

Some of the books seemed to have been sitting there for a long time, their pages already somewhat faded.

A middle-aged cultivator sat behind the low counter. He was slightly plump, with a small mustache, and was flipping through a book in his hands. Seeing someone enter, he hastily put it away in a fluster.

Since Zhou Ling was walking in front and was rather short, he could vaguely make out the words Nine-Tailed Turtle on the book's cover.

[Growth Talent, Basic Insight: Observe meticulously; greatly improves attention to detail. Requirement met: Successfully observe and capture thirty changes in expression cumulatively.]

"Fellow Daoist, are you here to buy books?"

The Middle-aged Shopkeeper asked with a smile.

[Captured a professional fake smile. Basic Insight +1]

"Shopkeeper, I'd like to buy some preparatory study books for my child before he enters the Dao Academy to cultivate. Do you have anything suitable here?"

Li Ru asked.

"Yes, yes. The books on the third bookshelf, the one against the wall on the right, are essential reading for children entering school!"

At her words, the Middle-aged Shopkeeper's eyes lit up. He pointed at the bookshelf with a smile.

[Captured heartfelt joy. Basic Insight +1]

Li Ru immediately walked over to the bookshelf.

Not long after, Li Ru left the shop carrying more than a dozen books.

Among them were Brief History of the Dao Alliance, Introduction to Qi Cultivation, Aptitude Analysis, and others.

"How many Spirit Stones did you get from this sale?"

After walking for a while, they met Zhou Shan outside Hundred Herbs Hall, and Li Ru asked.

"Eleven Spirit Stones and thirty-six Broken Spirit."

Zhou Shan said with a smile.

[Captured heartfelt joy. Basic Insight +1]

"This month has been pretty good. Come on, let's buy Ling'er a Fire Pattern Chicken for an extra meal!"

Li Ru's face was full of delight.

She then led Zhou Ling toward the area of the Market Street that sold Spirit Food.

Along the way, Zhou Shan bought Zhou Ling some glutinous rice cakes for a snack.